What’s Happening in LIC in Early 2020?

2020 has come to Long Island City. If you’re a resident, you might be tempted to head to Manhattan for a good time. After all, it’s only one subway stop away. That would be a mistake, because there are a whole bunch of fun things to do in LIC this month, no matter what you’re interested in.

So, what is happening in Long Island City in early 2020? We’re glad you asked!

We all loved story time when we were a kid. Hearing a teacher or parent read us a fun tale was the perfect way to pass the time and stimulate our imagination. As adults, we have movies and plays but…it’s just not the same. Wouldn’t it be great if we could bring storytime back?

Drag Queen Story Hour does just that, with one noteworthy addition: Drag Queens. These Queens have come to Queens to tell us their stories through spoken word, song, and dance. It’s a performance you won’t soon forget! (January 15th)

Being an artist is hard, as any artist can tell you. If you’re an artist, an art fan, or just curious about the more obscure side of the art world, you won’t want to miss the Know The Ways exhibition at Flux Factory. This extraordinary exhibition is an exploration of abstract landscape painter Florence Martin.

In the 1960s, Martin had a crisis of faith and destroyed the bulk of her paintings. For decades, these lost works were considered irrecoverable–until now. Marjan Verstappen has used everything from old photographs to microscopes to recover and restore much of Martin’s work. This is your chance to see these previously lost masterpieces. (January 17th-19th)

Green Space is a fantastic organization right here in Queens that is dedicated to fostering the art of dance. Their mission is to provide opportunities for up and coming dancers and choreographers to hone and show off their craft.

In January, they’re putting on 4 separate dance exhibitions that you won’t want to miss. These surreal and breathtaking performances aren’t just fascinating to watch, they plumb the depths of human experience and ask deeper questions about ourselves and our society. If you’re looking for something both breathtaking and thought-provoking, check out Green Space. They deserve more attention. (Performances begin January 24th)

If you’re a fan of rock climbing, you’re undoubtedly familiar with the excellent climbing gym Brooklyn Boulders Queensbridge. It’s a fantastic place to meet other passionate climbers and to hone your skills at bouldering and belaying. They’ve even got great classes for inexperienced climbers.

This January, they’re also hosting the Reel Rock film tour. They’ll be showing a series of short films that explore the new and exciting things happening in the world of climbing today. The climbers featured in these films don’t just face tough climbs, they quickly find that there are even greater challenges in the world around them, from mining barons to other climbers. (January 24th)

Do you want to build a snowman? Well, do you? The Queens Public Library wants you and your family to join them in building a snowman this winter. In fact, this is a snowman building contest We’re not sure what you’ll win, but it sure does sound fun!

But what if it’s not snowing? No worries. These snowmen will be made out of toilet paper, which means you can craft them no matter the weather and they also won’t melt. If your kids are in grades K-6, this is the perfect way to spend a winter day. (January 30th)

Winter still reigns supreme, so it’s always nice to bring a little extra life into your world, especially when the days are cold and dark. Building your very own terrarium is a simple and easy way to create your own tiny world that can survive almost anywhere in your apartment.

The crafty folks at Yaymaker invite you to join them at Clear Lake Chinese restaurant to cultivate your inner Gardner and to learn the craft of terrarium creation. By the end of the evening, you’ll have the skills you need to build a mini-zen garden, perfect a terrarium, and grow succulents. (February 1st)

Want to engage and impress your Valentine this year? If they’re a creative person, they’ll love the idea of a Valentines Day paint night. Instead of spending your time in a fancy restaurant ordering fancy food, why not learn the art of painting from a group of super-talented painting teachers?

You’ll learn the basics of painting and transform your blank canvas into a mini-masterpiece. There’s absolutely no experience required, and all of the supplies you’ll need will be provided. The only thing you have to do is show up and paint. After that, what you and that special someone do is up to you. (February 14th)